Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin

A trip to Italy is a trip that everyone should make at least once in their lifetime, although it’s recommendable to go there quite a few times. The reason behind this recommendation is that you need a good few weeks (and perhaps that’s not enough) to see the greatest parts of Italy. Cities such as the capital Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan and smaller places like Siena, Genoa and Bologna, are all charming places that have many historical and cultural landmarks to visit, from ruins from ancient Rome to beautiful churches and palaces from the Renaissance and other past times. Also worth a mention is the excellent cuisine in Italy, which goes much further than the typical and popular pasta and pizza.

The differences between Rome and Florence in terms of places to visit are quite considerable. While Rome has more landmarks and monuments from ancient Roman times, such as the Colosseum and the Forum, Florence is more about the Renaissance, with the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio as the main landmarks that you should visit when in this beautiful Tuscan city. However, both cities have plenty to offer in sculptures, with Rome having the beautiful Fontana di Trevi and the Bernini sculptures in Piazza Navona and Florence having the emblematic David of Michelangelo and the ones in Piazza della Signoria. In terms of museums, Rome has the Vatican Museums (including the famous Sistine Chapel) and Florence has the Uffizi Gallery, both of incredible value and a must visit.

Rome

In terms of culture and history, Rome and Florence are the two main cities to go to, but when it comes to scenic beauty, few cities can compete with Venice. The City of the Canals is unique, incomparable with any other city in the world. Its canals, its palaces, the bridges, the gondolas, the narrow streets, San Marco Square… it all comes together beautifully in a city that’s as attractive as it is expensive. Siena is also a very beautiful Tuscan city, with its famous Duomo and the Piazza del Campo, the stage of the world-famous palio racing, horse racing around the square that takes place every year. This medieval city is definitely not one to be missed when visiting Florence and Tuscany, since it’s only under an hour from the City of the Arno.

Venice

Milan is perhaps the most modern city in Italy. Despite not having as many monuments as other cities in Italy, it has the Duomo, one of the biggest cathedrals in the world and it’s also the capital of fashion, an ideal destination for all shopaholics. Not far from Milan, a few miles down south on the Mediterranean coast is Genoa, a beautiful picturesque city with a romantic port, and the second biggest aquarium in the world. Its relationship with the sea doesn’t stop here, because it also has a great Sea and Maritime Museum.

We couldn’t write about Italian cities without mentioning the food. Food in Italy is great, but if you ask many people in the know, they’ll tell you that the two best places to eat in Italy are Tuscany and the university city of Bologna, where the bolognese comes from. Tuscany is a region famous for its meats and its wines, the chianti wines, and in Florence there are many different restaurants that offer some of the best grilled meats that you’ve ever eaten, accompanies by some great wine. Bologna is also a great place to eat, especially in the many trattorias spread around the city. Bologna is easily accessible from Florence, only a few miles north of it, which can be accessed by car or train in under an hour.

Florence

It’s almost impossible to choose a city but one of the most complete ones is definitely the Tuscan capital. Find apartments in Florence at great prices and discover all the great things of this city, as well as covering the short distance to other nearby cities such as Siena and Bologna to make your trip complete.